Bush blocks abortion groups' money

By MARY DEJEVSKY

WASHINGTON - George Bush blocked the use of American taxpayers' money to help fund international family planning groups involved in abortionin one of his first acts as President.

In a shrewd piece of political timing, Mr Bush signed the memorandum to cut off funding yesterday as thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators took to the streets of Washington for their annual "pro-life" march.

"It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion either here or abroad," he said.

Mr Bush's move reinstates a policy introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984 but rescinded by Bill Clinton as one of his first presidential acts eight years ago and guarantees that the highly charged issue of abortion will be back in the political arena.

Supporters of abortion rights held a candle-lit vigil outside the Supreme Court to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the landmark ruling on abortion rights known as Roe v Wade.

To mark the occasion, Mr Bush issued a written statement lauding the sanctity of life and hailing the day when every child would be welcomed into the world. The careful wording of the statement, and declining to give it in person, showed the delicacy with which Mr Bush negotiates this emotive subject. He campaigned as an anti-abortion candidate, securing the support of the Republican Party's religious right. But he also said that, while he supported outlawing abortion, he believed Americans were "not ready" to do so.

Among those "not ready" are his wife, Laura, and his mother, the former first lady, Barbara Bush, who waited until her husband had left the White House to support abortion rights. Laura Bush said in a television interview the day before her husband's inauguration that she would not support the repeal of Roe v Wade.

In London, Med Bouzidi, the assistant director-general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said the organisation would protest to Washington. "We believe in the right of women to have access to safe abortion," he said. "It is immoral to impose on the rest of the world a policy that does not apply to America."

A UN official described Mr Bush's move as a "cheap shot, that hits women in developing countries with no votes".

Mr Bush's decision is largely symbolic, because Congress blocked Mr Clinton's efforts to support family planning aid groups.

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